Preview
  • Shades of Honor (Grayson Brothers, Book 1)

  • By: Wendy Lindstrom
  • Narrated by: Julia Motyka
  • Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (468 ratings)

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Shades of Honor (Grayson Brothers, Book 1)

By: Wendy Lindstrom
Narrated by: Julia Motyka
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Publisher's summary

From New York Times best-selling author Wendy Lindstrom comes an unforgettable novel about love and family, honor and sacrifice, hope and healing....

She Planned to Marry Her Best Friend - Then His Brother Returned Home and Complicated Everything

Marrying her beloved friend, Kyle Grayson, will allow Evelyn Tucker to care for her ailing father and resurrect their failing business. But when Kyle’s older brother, Radford, returns home with his young daughter, it turns Evelyn’s life upside down. Radford has survived a gruesome war and has finally come back to work the family sawmill and make a home for his daughter. Evelyn is drawn to the deeply wounded man and withdrawn little girl, and she can't help reaching into Radford's darkness with her healing love. The undeniable spark between them ignites a love neither has known…and neither can embrace. Torn by her forbidden feelings for Radford and her desperate need to honor and protect Kyle, Evelyn faces an impossible dilemma and her greatest heartache.

Winner of the RITA award

“Awesome underlying emotional power.” (RT Book Reviews)

"A perfect ten...one story that should not be missed!" (Romance Reviews Today)

©2002 Wendy Lindstrom (P)2013 Wendy Lindstrom
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Critic reviews

“Awesome underlying emotional power.” (Romantic Times)

What listeners say about Shades of Honor (Grayson Brothers, Book 1)

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A touching story

What made the experience of listening to Shades of Honor the most enjoyable?

I was really drawn into the story and couldn't stop listening. It was also a wonderful change to be in an historical era set in America instead of Regency or Victorian England. Those societal restrictions can get tiresome after awhile. This was my first historical romance that I listened to and I was pleased with the experience. I'm also looking forward to continuing this series and hearing the stories of all the Grayson men, especially as Kyle's is next. I not only recommend the story but this format. 4.5 stars

Who was your favorite character and why?

This was a really touching story as Radford Grayson epitomizes the tortured hero, having experienced unspeakable war action that he relives through nightmares. Evelyn is a special woman who helps him overcome his misery and provides tender care to his daughter. They are both honorable people trapped in an impossible situation that Kyle Grayson had a hand in creating and perpetuating. I liked how the story developed and was emotionally connected to both Radford and Evelyn. I actually missed them when the story ended.

Which character – as performed by Julia Motyka – was your favorite?

Same as above

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I had moments of sadness where I came close to tears:)

Any additional comments?

The narrator did a good job in distinguishing characters and she managed the male characters skillfully. Her voice had a pleasant tone that worked for the story, even though the pacing was sometimes off.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great start to a series.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would recommend this audiobook. It tells a lot about PTSD that soldiers had after the civil war. How when they come home not even their family does not understand them.

What other book might you compare Shades of Honor (Grayson Brothers, Book 1) to and why?

Can not think of one. This is a great start to a series.

Which scene was your favorite?

My favorite scene is where the little girls are having a picnic with bread and jam. It is a cute scene and the girls are so cute in this scene.

If you could take any character from Shades of Honor (Grayson Brothers, Book 1) out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I would have liked to take William out to dinner. He was a kind man with lots of knowledge about the civil war. Plus he was funny and entertaining.

Any additional comments?

This audiobook was provided by the author/narrator/publisher free of charge in exchange for an unbiased review.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A Roller Coaster Romance..

Any additional comments?


Wow..

Evelyn, the female lead, is engaged to be married to Kyle Grayson.

She is in love alright, just not with Kyle, and this starts the beginning of a Roller Coaster Romance.

This was an Excellent Story of Brotherly Love and their Ladies.


Julia Motyka did a really good job with the narration.

Note:
"This audio book was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review."



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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

WOW!!!! Best stories I have read in 30+ years!!

What did you love best about Shades of Honor?

Everything! At first I wondered if I was just having a mellow and melancholy day when I laughed and cried while listening to this story! Then after listening to the other books of this series I realized that it wasn't just the day I was having, but the story, author and wonderful narrator I was listening to that made me love this series!

What did you like best about this story?

How their family values are so much in the fore front of every book in this series. Amazing values, sense of caring and loving. Many family values are that now gone from our society in how to raise and give care to the children we love. This series make me almost jealous of the women in these mens lives, to find such a manly man would be amazing.

Which character – as performed by Julia Motyka – was your favorite?

She narrated them all so wonderfully! Men's were a little feminine but with the knowledge that they were loving, caring, giving men it was all good!

Any additional comments?

Not any hot and steamy sex scenes (which I don't mind, but) just wonderful stories about passion, life, family and love.
I am on the 5th book in 3 days, I love Wendy and I have never heard of her before!

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful Book

I can say this was one of the best book's I have listened to, I listened to it all at once, and never lost interest, excited to see the other series, and also good narration. if you don't have it...by all mean's try it..you won't be dissapointed

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

worth listening more than once

I own the book and the reading is so good I bought that too. I relisten ever so often. I just skip the chapter that makes me cry :)

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Pleasant but not outstanding

Some research was done for this post-Civil War story which is set after the Civil War, but it must have focused on the war, livery stables, and saw mills. The characters are far too modern in their speech and behavior to be believable--the heroine in particular spouts modern psychobabble. On the other hand, most of the characters are well-developed and interesting. The plot line is predictable but I liked the emphasis on honor and family.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Emotional Historical Romance

Description:
Radford Grayson is a former Union soldier and when he returned home after the Civil War ended, he was too emotionally wounded to stay and help his brothers run the mill their father built. He returns again, five years later, this time with his four year old daughter in tow, ready to take his place alongside his brothers at the mill, but his brother Kyle is not happy to see him and sends him to help his fiance, Evelyn Tucker, run her father’s livery. Radford reluctantly agrees to help Evelyn at the livery, and begins to develop feelings for her.

Why I read this book:
The story appealed to me in so many ways:
The setting: it’s set in the US after the Civil War, which was a nice change of pace from the Regency ballroom type historicals I usually read
The hero: two words -- tortured hero
The heroine: she’s not your typical heroine -- she wears boots and breeches and runs her father’s livery
The romance set-up/conflict: the heroine is the fiance of the hero’s brother.

What I liked:
Radford and Evelyn were such well-drawn characters and their emotional journey felt really authentic. From the moment I read the description, I wanted to know how they could possibly get their HEA. Evelyn is Radford’s sister-in-law to be -- how could it possibly work out? The thing I love about romance novels is that you know there will be an HEA, so it’s all about how the author gets the characters there and this was a bumpy, but realistic ride and I was hooked from the first chapter.

What I also liked:
The secondary characters really added to this story. Radford has a four year old daughter and the relationship that develops between Rebecca and Evelyn is as important to the story as Radford and Evelyn’s relationship. I also loved the relationship between Evelyn and her father and his relationship with Radford and Rebecca.

I listened to the audio version of this book and I thought the narrator did an excellent job conveying the emotion needed for this story. She did a good job with the various voices too - she had to voice a variety of characters -- from a four year old little girl to a man who’d suffered a stroke and she pulled them all off quite well. There were a few areas where the pacing was off, but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story.

If you’re looking for a well-written, emotionally rich historical romance with well-drawn characters you grow to really care about, and miss when you’re done reading, then I highly recommend this story.

I was offered a copy of the audio book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome story guaranteed to bring you to tears

I have never been a real fan of the typical romance novel. Then I read Shades of Honor and from there the rest of the Grayson Brothers series. Yes it is a romance novel, but it is a truly a story of honor, forgiveness, the love of family and the strength that comes with it. Ms. Motyka does an awesome job narrating. She reflects the emotion and love that is found between the characters beautifully. I would highly recommend this book and the rest of the series. Once you start, be prepared to little else. These books are impossible to put down.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

loved it

this book was wondeful. i really enjoyed listening to it. very well writen and narrated

"I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot com."

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